Can't seem to actually retire

[TW]

My wife and I decided I wasn't going to work security again this summer. Too many hours, lousy weather at times, and above all, couldn't enjoy being in Wisconsin during the summer. I worked seven days a week.

So.... I hung it up! I'm 75 years old. I guess I have that right. I can't just sit back, and watch the world go by I'm afraid.

We decided there's a need for a good winter homes service down here in South Texas. To that end, I began learning how to develop a real estate program geared to serving this particular type of community. I've been working on it over a month, and actually getting somewhere with it. Now I intend going to school at the University of Texas, in Austin, and get my license as a broker. Won't get up to Wisconsin until mid-May, but well on our way to a new business being ready to fire up, on the internet. It should be ready by early September.

I guess I'm going to keep active until the day I drop. It sure beats sitting around waiting on the inevitable.

[happypacker]

are you doing this to just keep busy? Or are you the type that likes the rigid structure of keeping "set" hours? (like a firm schedule? We had a great guy who was 80 years old before he retired, he just like the idea of getting up for breakfast then getting to work at 7 am and then coming home at 3 thirty. many people like that. He told us he retired because it just was not fun to get up in the morning any longer. anyway, great to here your found something to keep you doing what you want. I am retired and love it, i am keeping very busy at my own time schedule and pace. Does not hurt to have an 18 year old girl at home either! love her.

[TW]

Interesting point on the guy you mentioned. Some people do love that regimentation. I was one of them at one time. My problem was always not wanting to shut down when I should. Put in way too many hours on just about everything I did. Motor was always running.

I did like that regimentation when I first started working security. I actually liked the job itself, because I always liked being a cop. Not because it was authority, but because I like people. Now though, the physical aspect of things is starting to bother me. Can't sleep well at night unless I go to bed very late. Need to stay up until after midnight or I'm up before 5 AM every day.

So, what I do is spend hours on what I'm doing as the mood fits. I've gotten in about 6 hours today (by 3 PM), despite going to Walmart to pick up my two new golf cart tires, plus doing additional shopping, putting one on the cart, hauling the garbage out, visiting with neighbors, and now putzing around out here. LOL

[Deleted]

Good for you! My grandpa who turns 94 in May has always told me that those that think retirement is sitting around doing nothing don't last long. He retired at the age of 65 and keeps a schedule every day. He is always doing something and staying busy.

[TW]

He's discovered the fountain of youth. It's keeping your mind and body busy, while being able to feel that what we do is actually worth the effort.

Believe it or not, this little business we're starting is geared to require absolutely no serious physical work, while still generating a fair degree of active participation physically and mentally. It also allows for over half of the work to be done on the basis of when a person wants to work on it. Flex hours would be a good way of describing it.

How much do I enjoy the project? If we only made enough money from it to cover costs, I'd be as happy as a fox in a hen house.